Stephen King Fans discussion

Hi Folks!

I'll let you know what I've read so far and maybe you can point me in the right direction!

The Dark Tower 1,2 & 3, Under The Dome, The Stand, The Long Walk, The Running Man, On Writing..., Full Dark, No Stars, Blockade Billy and Rage.

I see that we're reading "IT" in August. Perhaps I'll try that.. but any particular book I should look at next?

I'd say go for IT. It's one of King's best ones imho.

I agree, IT is a good one! The Rest of the Dark Tower series is a must-read. And The Shining. And Duma Key.

And all the rest too.

Don't ask me for King recommendations. They are like my Lays potato chips - I can't stop with just one. ;)

IT or The Talisman. Both are utterly fantastic!

Misery, The Shining, Green Mile, and I can't believe no one's said it, but SALEM'S LOT is a must.

Any time someone asks me for a King recommendation I give them the same answer: The Talisman. Fan-flippin-tastic.

Dani wrote: "Any time someone asks me for a King recommendation I give them the same answer: The Talisman. Fan-flippin-tastic."

Amen! I went through all emotions humanly possible while reading this book!

Erica - I read it for the first time in high school and said then it was the best book I had ever read (lol, in my short 15 years). Just read it again at 36 and I still maintain it's up there in my top 10. I just passed it to my 12 year old. Asked her how she'd rate it out of 5 starts. "About 3.5," she says. I wanted to choke her! LOL. Hunger Games is her fave right now.

I read Black House right after my re-read of Talisman and was very disappointed. I was expecting more of the same I guess. Black House was its own story and I wanted it to be more of a sequel to Talisman . . . I wanted more of the childhood magic. I guess since Jack had grown up I should have expected it would be more "adult." The real reason I picked up both books was because I had planned to read the DT series and BH had soooo many DT references in it . . .

You should read both the Talisman and Eye of the Dragons if you liked the Dark Tower books.

The Running Man, Definitely one of my favorite and it's short so you should go for it

Dani wrote: "Any time someone asks me for a King recommendation I give them the same answer: The Talisman. Fan-flippin-tastic."

Oh, definitely, Dani!!

I'm surprised how many people dislike Black House. I love that book. It's got some of the most memorable characters, and such a dark, bleak tone and such an interesting premise, that I can't help but love it. :)

I really really hope a 3rd book is in the works...

I'm with you, Becky. It's a brilliant work.

I'm guessing that many are thrown off by the difference of tone between The Talisman and Black House. It took me some getting used to, and for the first little bit of BH, I thought I wasn't going to like it.

But then I adjusted to the new tone and it all clicked into place.

You're probably right, Chris. It is a much different tone and feel than The Talisman. I love them both though. :)

They're like two children of the same parents. Obviously related, but completely different. Yet of course the parent loves them both equally.

Chris wrote: "They're like two children of the same parents. Obviously related, but completely different. Yet of course the parent loves them both equally."

Wow, that is a WONDERFUL way of putting it, Chris!:) I couldn't agree more.

Don't get me wrong, I liked BH well enough, I just LOVED Talisman so much that I was disappointed I wasn't getting more of the same flavor of pie, KWIM?

Dani wrote: "Don't get me wrong, I liked BH well enough, I just LOVED Talisman so much that I was disappointed I wasn't getting more of the same flavor of pie, KWIM?"

I was too. I mean, I did really like BH as it's own thing after I got into it, but at first I wasn't so sure what to think about it. I was really wanting Jack to be the same old Jack I knew, and I was craving more of the Territories, the Queen's tent, and all that. Threw me off when Jack was a cynical man, no longer the boy I knew and loved. I did come to like the story of BH though, especially on my 2nd time through it. The bikers and Henry were great characters, and I even sort of liked the kid too.

A Black House re-read is long overdue for me, IMO!:)

Foe me the overall problem with BH is tons of exposition followed by almost a few minutes of plot resolution...with so little of the flipping to the other world that made Talisman so memorable for me.

I hope the third book, when it finally arrives, will give us more and more Territories, and lots of good characterization and stuff. I can't wait for it, I hope they get it done sometime soonish :)

Agrimorfee wrote: "Foe me the overall problem with BH is tons of exposition followed by almost a few minutes of plot resolution...with so little of the flipping to the other world that made Talisman so memorable for me."

BINGO. I wanted more Territories.

Bag of Bones. Beautiful story.

No one ever mentions Hearts in Atlantis as one of their favorite King books. I loved that book. Read it many years ago and simply couldn't put it down.

That being said, I think my favorite King book is IT which is up for discussion in this group. This is my second read of this book and it's still just as fantastic to me as when I first read it. And every time I re-read, I see something that I didn't catch the in the previous reads. Fantastic book.

If your midway through Dark Tower id def say insomnia due to the references to it. Well that and its a excellent book and 1 of my faves :)

Read The Shining, IT, The Mist (which is one of his short stories) and Carrie (which is the one I am reading right now).

I'm in the mood for a King fix, so I am trying to decide between the following three novels:

Carrie, The Dead Zone, and Pet Sematary.

I've read most of his stuff except those three-mainly because I saw the movie first and therefore I mistakingly avoided them. I'm sort of leaning towards Dead or Pet simply because they're a little longer.

As a general rule, I like all of King's work I've read. I'm just curious what other fans would recommend to another fan in my situation.

I'd say Dead Zone. It was the one that threw me into this most recent period of King re-reads, a streak that's been going on for almost 3 yrs now after doing most of my original readings over 10 yrs ago or more when I was still in school. :)

Im not sure whether to read 'The Stand' or 'It'. I own both and both will eventually get read but Im not sure which to start with.

Between The Stand and It, that's a tough choice. Both are examples of his best work in my opinion. I think I'd recommend to go with It first though, just because it's the group read for this month and next :)

Kit★ wrote: "Between The Stand and It, that's a tough choice. Both are examples of his best work in my opinion. I think I'd recommend to go with It first though, just because it's the group read for this month ..."

Agree!

Bracton: Carrie is good, and a quick read. Dead Zone is meatier, though (to me) it has some dull spots. Overall it’s very good. Pet Sematary is one of the goriest and most frightening. I don’t think I’ve read it in its entirety since I had kids. It’s also very good, you just…have to brace yourself.

Kyle wrote: "Under The Dome Blaze Duma Key "


I liked Blaze. It was different from most King stories. Seemed very believable and real. Tough to follow for the first pages. But smooths out after that. Full Dark are solid short stories, I'm hoping for movie versions IE tales from the crypt or creepshow. I'm working on Duma currently and can't read it fast enough. Good so far but just over 1/4 of the way through. Haven't read dome yet.

The Talisman and then follow up with Black House; BUT do not get it confused with Bleak House (which is another good book, but not by SK) :D

I always thought that Misery, Carrie and Cojo are three books that must be read for the simple fact that they are SO much better than the movies!

They are better than the movies...way better.

I feel like some thing gets lost in translation when they make King books into movies. It always upsets me beacause the movies(to me) come off bland compared to the books.

Sarah said, "I feel like some thing gets lost in translation when they make King books into movies. It always upsets me beacause the movies(to me) come off bland compared to the books."

...bland like over-cooked spaghetti. I always feel like they are trying to make it 'hollywood' instead of respecting its true form. the tv movies have done better; but they really tame it.. :/

Almost done with Pet Sematary and wondering whether to read Cujo, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, or Four Past Midnight next. Any suggestions?

Cujo is more violent than the movie; you almost feel for the dog. In fact, i liked the dog better than the mom. i like both Nightmares and Dreamscapes & Four Past Midnight. I love his short stories :)

It's been a minute reading a Stephen King book, I have listened to a couple of short ones via audio, but I want to read an actual book for October. Right now I'm trying to decide between , or maybe or I'm good with any suggestions, what do you guys think???

I'd go with Lisey's Story.

I have a feeling that you might enjoy "Hearts in Atlantis" - as it is actually four novella with threads running through, tying them together. "Lisey's Story" is one of my big time favorite Kings, but for some reason, it's not universally loved. But please, please
DON'T read "Cell" - it's one of the throw-away Kings - very little of this book stays with you, although it is a good quick read.

Dreamcatcher

I would go with Lisey's Story or Cell ;)
Hearts in Atlantis didnt really hit me quite as well as the other two ;)

Bondama wrote: "I have a feeling that you might enjoy "Hearts in Atlantis" - as it is actually four novella with threads running through, tying them together. "Lisey's Story" is one of my big time favorite Kings,..."

Hi, Bondama!

You didn't care for Cell?

No, not at all -- beneath King's talents.

I'm with Bondama on this one. I might re-read Cell at some point, but I was not impressed at all with the book on my first reading.

Hi guys, I've wanted to read Lisey's Story for a while, and while digging around in my boxes I found - I'm so confused..... :)

Thank you - it's good to hear that I'm not completely alone in being underwhelmed.